Democrat Gary Wall: Crusading for civil liberties

The winner of the Republican primary between Ray Birch and Garrett Wiggins will face Democrat Gary Wall in the general election.

Wall, 64, has no Democratic opponent.

"I don't need this job," Wall said about being sheriff. "I want this job because I want to make a difference."

Since announcing his candidacy for sheriff in January, he has hit the streets passing out "Gary Wall for Sheriff" badges, meeting the residents of the county and sharing why he wants to be "part of the change."

Wall was born and raised in Seattle. He moved to Aspen when he was 24 to be a ski bum and wound up going to work as a patrol officer with the Aspen Police Department in 1967.

From 1973 to 1979 he was police chief in Vail.

After his time in Vail, Wall skipped around from Washington to Arizona working as a restaurateur and private investigator. Eventually Wall came back to Colorado to begin a private investigator business in Steamboat Springs.

Wall said he plans to use the lessons he has learned as a "private investigator, police officer and human being" in the Sheriff's Office.

"If I can get elected as sheriff, I am going to do everything I can to make sure officers respect the civil rights and liberties of our citizens. Officers will not be taking shortcuts or intimidating people into relinquishing those rights," he said. "People should know their rights, and officers should respect those rights when people exercise them." '